JJ Redick appears favorite for HC job after Dan Hurley contract offer

It looks like JJ Redick is firmly in the driver’s seat as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A “source close to the process” told NBA Insider Mark Stein“You know who gets the job,” apparently referring to JJ Redick.

Another source told Stein that “James Borrego’s apparent lead in Cleveland’s search could end up leaving Redick as the only top candidate on the Lakers’ roster that they have a clear chance at.”

The Lakers were all in with UConn head coach Bobby Hurley, who reportedly offered him a six-year, $70 million contract that he turned down, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This came amid reports that Redick and Borrego were also potential candidates.

After Hurley’s rejection, Woj reported that the Lakers would “regroup and resume recruiting candidates for interviews in hopes of hiring a coach by the NBA draft later this month.”

An interesting factor, however, is how a potential candidate like Redick will react to being clearly the organization’s No. 2 option during this process. It’s a bit of an awkward starting point for a relationship, especially considering Redick’s complete inexperience as a head coach and the fact that the Lakers position is one of the most high-profile jobs in the sport.

There is also a general lack of clarity on how the Lakers will look next season around the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. It’s clear the team needs to overhaul its game after going 47-35 last season, needing the Play-In tournament to make the playoffs, and quickly being eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in five games at first round.

But will these be small roster changes on the sidelines? Or will the team make a splash to acquire a third star?

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this team, and adding a first-time head coach in this particular scrimmage is a big ask. Redick appears to be the clear favorite for the gig at this point, but it’s fair to wonder if this is an ideal match for either party.